An implicit integral method to solve selected radiative transfer problems. 2: LTE stellar atmosphere models

Crivellari, L.; Simonneau, E.
Bibliographical reference

The Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 429, no. 1, p. 331-339

Advertised on:
7
1994
Number of authors
2
IAC number of authors
2
Citations
14
Refereed citations
5
Description
The implicit intergral method that we have already introduced in a previous paper, together with its application to the non-Local Thermal Equilibrium (non-LTE) line formation problem, is considered here for another paradigm problem, namely, the self-consistent temperature correction when computing Local Thermal Equilibrium (LTE) stellar atmosphere models. The specific form of the source function, required by the algorithm, is obtained through a linear expansion of the Planck function around a trial temperature distribution. The correct solution is quickly obtained via an iterative correction procedure. The nonmatricial structure, which is the distinctive feature of the implicit intergral method, offers the possibility to take into account a very large number of frequency, angle, and depth discrete points, without any penalty in terms of numerical or computational problems.